The comeback kid

Today: Jeremiah 1-3

Have you ever known people who suddenly disappear?

I'm not talking about assistants in a magic act. I'm not referring to kids on milk cartons or the evening news. I'm talking about people who suddenly disappear...from work, from socializing with good friends or most likely, from church.

There are people who overnight seem to switch personalities--one day, they are the reliable church volunteer, attending services every weekend. And then they suddenly disappear...sometimes, forever. Why does that happen?

In today's passage, God talked with Jeremiah about runaway people--people who tried to runaway from God and chose to pursue false gods, sin, religion and sex. God actually referred to these people as "whores"--trading truth and a real God who loved them for cheap thrills. Some of these people may have been literally whoring with sex outside its God-designed plan (marriage), but some people turn tricks for other things--work, power, money, drugs, food...you name it. Whoring happens when we turn our backs on God and devote our hearts, minds and souls to other things.

Many of the disappearing people I referred to at the beginning of this post disappear because of guilt or shame. They may realize that their pursuits were wrong, but don't want to face God or the people they disappointed. But I don't think God is ever disappointed with people who genuinely admit their failure, ask for forgiveness and aim to change for the better. Take a look at this message God gave to the people of Israel:

'Turn back, fickle Israel.

I'm not just hanging back to punish you.

I'm committed in love to you.

My anger doesn't seethe nonstop.

Just admit your guilt.

Admit your God-defiance.

Admit to your promiscuous life with casual partners,

pulling strangers into the sex-and-religion groves

While turning a deaf ear to me.'"

God's Decree.

"Come back, wandering children!"

God's Decree.

It sounds so simple. But when God forgives, He completely forgets. Because of Christ's sacrifice and His grace, when we ask for forgiveness, God not only grants it--but sees us as if we never messed up in the first place. This means that there's absolutely no reason for God's people to constantly live in fear, guilt or shame. Wow.

Here's what happened when God forgave Israel:

...And this is what will happen:

You will increase and prosper in the land.

The time will come"—

God's Decree!—

"when no one will say any longer,

'Oh, for the good old days!

Remember the Ark of the Covenant?'

It won't even occur to anyone to say it—'the good old days.'

The so-called good old days of the Ark are gone for good.
"Jerusalem will be the new Ark—'God's Throne.'

All the godless nations, no longer stuck in the ruts of their evil ways,

will gather there to honor God.

Good, right? This excerpt is basically saying that after God's forgiveness, none of His people would talk about "the good old days"...because they would experience some new AMAZING days. His forgiveness freshens up our lives so that we forget about past failures and move ahead toward brighter futures. That's extreme grace. Instead of disappearing, you and I can become comeback kids. And who doesn't love a story about redemption and restoration?

Tomorrow: Jeremiah 4-6

Kids, crooks and the Donkey Rider

Today: Matthew 20-21

If you had omnipotent power and were making a grand entrance, how would you do it?

I think I would fly on the cotton-candy pink dragon from "Neverending Story." Or soar from the sky in a stunning red vintage Valentino gown. Or perhaps I'd fly in a glass elevator like the kid from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Yeah...those would all be pretty amazing. :) But Jesus chose just about the last mode of transportation I would ever pick. He chose...a donkey.

A donkey?

First of all, donkeys smell. They're kind of small for carrying a grown man--awkward-looking and uncomfortable. They don't steer very well (can we say stubborn?). I can't even imagine a fairytale prince riding a donkey...let alone the King of Kings and Son of God.

But that's exactly what happened. Jesus didn't roll into town in a talking car like David Haselhoff on Knight Rider...he was the ultimate Donkey Rider.

And let's talk about the people who followed Him. They weren't exactly the in-crowd at the Temple or A-list politicians. Nope--His followers included a bunch of little kids and what the Bible describes as "crooks and whores." Quite a crew, don't you think?

When I think about these things, I have such an interesting picture of Jesus. He is a God that the crooks, whores and kids felt comfortable with. He was confident and humble enough to ride on a donkey--He didn't need the hoopla of a white horse (or pink dragon, for that matter!), even though He probably deserved them. He was reach-able to people who were real, flawed, rough, simple and innocent. These people had a simple faith--but radically changed lives.

Those that stuggled most with Jesus? The religious, cynical, careless, proud and arrogant. Here's what He said to them:

I tell you that crooks and whores

are going to precede you into God's kingdom.

John came to you showing you the right road.

You turned up your noses at him,

but the crooks and whores believed him.

Even when you saw their changed lives,

you didn't care enough to change and believe him.

I typically don't count myself in the same camp as crooks and whores. But maybe I should aspire to exactly that. To care, to change and to believe with child-like faith in the power of a life-altering, donkey-riding King.

Tomorrow: Matthew 22-23